Sunday, August 28, 2011

An Asian actor who appeared in the first Austin Powers film is facing a life sentence after being convicted of taking part in a brutal rape

Joseph Son, 40, has been found guilty of raping and torturing a 20-year-old woman after she was abducted near her home in Huntington Beach, California. Son, a mixed martial arts fighter, played the role of Dr Evil's henchman Random Task in the 1997 film "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery." He was arrested in 2008 after DNA linked him to a rape attack carried out on Christmas Eve in 1990. Son and an accomplice tortured and repeatedly raped their young victim before releasing her with her underwear tied around her eyes. The incident took place in 1990 before Son made his film debut in the spy spoof film. He was charged with the rape 18 years later after being linked by DNA taken at the crime scene. Son had been arrested on an unrelated vandalism charge and gave a DNA sample. Prosecutor Eric Scarborough said that Son was a sadist who took pleasure in terrifying his victim. Son was initially charged with multiple sexual assault charges and faced a maximum sentence of 275 years to life in prison. But many of the charges were dropped because the statute of limitations had expired. His co-defendant in the case Santiago Gaitan, 40, pleaded guilty to rape, kidnapping and other charges, and was sentenced to 17 years and four months in prison. Son has been told he faced from 15 years to life when he is sentenced.

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